Arsène Wenger has seen a €2m (£1.6m) bid rejected by Legia Warsaw for the 17-year-old defensive midfielder Krystian Bielik.

The Arsenal manager had Bielik at the club’s London Colney training base over the Christmas period, having invited him from Poland for a tour and he made an initial €1.5m offer for him at the time.

Wenger has now stepped up his interest and the player is keen on the proposed transfer, even though he would most likely have to drop down from first-team level to the academy. Bielik, who moved to Legia from Lech Poznan last summer, has made his senior breakthrough this season.

He stands 6ft 2in tall and he can play at centre-half while Henning Berg, the Legia manager, has tried him in various midfield roles. Legia gave permission for him to travel to Arsenal around Christmas and, with Roma having also shown an interest, they appear keen to drive the price higher. They want a package, including add-ons, of at least €3m.

Wenger’s need for a defensive midfielder is well documented but Bielik would be a prospect for the future, rather than an immediate solution. He has a big reputation in youth football but has played in only five matches for the Legia first team.